2021, the year of continued hope, confidence, and courage. 

2020 was an interesting year. Ending my nursing career at the hospital where I had been at for over 12 years, to being quarantined and adjusting to being a full-time stay at home mommy, to being at my heaviest ever while not pregnant, and being worried, scared, and full of uncertainties for the year ahead. It was a combination of so many different emotions. However, we made it! I am thankful that my little family and extended family had no health issues related to Covid-19 (as far as we are concerned), we didn't suffer financial struggle, and we were able to get together several times throughout the year. This year taught me the importance of family and close friends. 

So, I entered 2021 with a grateful heart for all the good I had experienced even while in the middle of a pandemic. At the same time, 2020 will be the year I remember as the year of testimonies. Although I haven't set goals/resolutions in several years now, this year I want to work on being more carefree, not caring about what others think, practicing self-care, being more present at the moment while worrying less about the future, and overcoming my fears. This brings me to my word of the year. Confidence. 

Confidence, defined as "a feeling of self-assurance arising from one's appreciation of one's own abilities or qualities."

Of course, I value myself, yet it doesn't change the fact the situations over the years, including 2020, have affected that confidence. Therefore, my goal for the year is to be mindful of my abilities and qualities as a woman, wife, mother, nurse, daughter, sister, and friend. I can not predict what this year has in store for us. And I know that not stressing too much about it will be a challenge, but I am determined to turn the page, have faith, and trust God.

Wishing you all a very joyful and prosperous New Year!

Past Words of the Year:
2015 Grace
2016 Faith
2017 Healing 
2018 Patience

2019 Joy

2020 Hope

2020 was without a doubt one for the books. I mean, I don’t know about you but in my 33 years of life I had not lived through a pandemic. A word wide pandemic. It’s crazy to believe all the lessons 2020 has taught us. So many happy moments as well as tears. Tears of joy, tears of misfortune, tears of gratitude. I felt so blessed at the end of 2019 and I welcomed 2020 with open arms, believing that life couldn’t get any better. Well, technically it could of but I believed to I had everything I had ever prayed for. Then 2020 come around. We all got sick. I mean really really sick. Then things started to go down hill from there. So much so that I worried. A lot! More from of fear of the unknown than anything else. Yet there were so many hidden blessings. Blessings so big yet seeming so small that you’d almost missed it. And even with the feeling of misfortune I felt so blessed. Little by little and month after month I started to put in perspective the true meaning of life. Health. Family. Comfort. Trust. Peace. Reassurance. Joy. 

Although this pandemic took so many lives, and affected as well as changed so many lives, it was also a realization to be thankful for the little things we often take for granted. I hope to never forget the lessons learned. To never lose hope. To be kind and optimistic. To reach out to those I love and care about. Most importantly to never take a single moment or person for granted. The world change so rapidly. Life can change in the blink of an eye. Tomorrow is not promised. We must appreciate everything waking and breathing moment we are allowed. But you know what’s the most importance lesson I learned? To always trust my God! I may not know what tomorrow holds, but I certainly know who holds tomorrow and his love for me, for us the human race, has no limits. 

Happy New Year friends! May your new year be peaceful and prosperous!